Time Management Practices in Large Construction
Projects
Aftab Hameed Memon1, Ismail Abdul Rahman2, Ismaaini Ismail3, Noor Yasmin Zainun4
1,2
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Malaysia
86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
1
aftabm78@hotmail.com, 2ismailar@uthm.edu.my, 3is_mujahidah@yahoo.com, 4nryasmin@uthm.edu.my
Abstract— Challenge of completing construction projects
within estimated time frame is biggest concern amongst the
practitioners. Several approaches and tools have been introduced
over the past years to enhance the management of the
construction projects. This paper has identified commonly used
techniques and software packages of time management together
with their effectiveness level in large construction projects of
Malaysia. Data was gathered through survey technique amongst
the practitioners involved in handling large construction
projects. Relative Importance Index calculation was employed to
assess the level of effectiveness for time management techniques
and software packages adopted in the construction project. The
results highlighted that most common and effective time
management technique and software Package are CPM and
Microsoft Project respectively. Although, this technique and
software package in almost every project is applied, but still the
industry practitioners fail in achieving effective time
management. Hence, this study recommends the further
investigation be carried out in uncovering the related issue which
hindrance in achieving the benefits of these in construction
projects.
Index Terms— Time management, Large Construction, Time
management techniques, Time control Software
I. INTRODUCTION
Time management is important in any construction project.
Without proper time management, many problems will occur
such as extension of time or time overrun. Some of the
researchers describe time overrun as delay and some of them
describe that the time overrun is an effect from the construction
delay, no matter what it was described, time overrun become
the most general problem in construction industry worldwide
[1]-[8]. Time overrun occur when the actual progress of a
construction project is slower than the planned schedule [9].
Delay or time overrun will affect all parties involved in the
project. It will affect the profits which would be obtained if the
project can be completed on the schedule. But due to the time
overrun, contractors had to spend more money on labor, plant
and may lose the opportunity to get the next project. Hence,
effective time management is very important and crucial to
achieve successful completion of construction projects. The
aim of the study is to investigate the common application of
time management techniques and software packages in
construction projects and determine the level of effectiveness
both of them.
II. RELATED WORKS
In the pursuit of efficient project performance, time control
is one of the most important functions. It is more crucial in
large scale and megaprojects; where various risk variables
cause schedule delays. Hence, there are numerous time
management techniques and software packages used for project
planning and scheduling worldwide. Each of the techniques has
different functions and process in providing a list of dates on
which certain items are to be completed. Following sections
explain all the related techniques/methods and available
software packages used for time management.
A. Time Management Techniques/Methods
Time management is one of the keys to effective project
management as weaknesses in the time management will cause
delays in project completion [10]. Hence, time in construction
projects need to be controlled from the beginning of the
construction process until the project is totally completed.
There are several techniques or methods commonly used for
managing time in construction projects as discussed below:
1) Gantt Bar Chart
Gantt charts are simple and easy to construct and hence are
the most commonly used method of scheduling and controlling
in construction industry [11-12]. Besides that, Gantt charts help
in managing the dependencies between tasks and determining
the resources required for each activity. These are used in
monitoring progress of the project. The main advantages of
Gantt charts are as follows:
a) Gantt charts are useful tools for planning and
scheduling projects.
b) Gantt charts allow assessment on how long a project
should take.
c) Gantt charts determine the resources needed.
2) Critical Path Networks/Method
Critical path method has been widely used for network
analysis and project planning industry [13] and as a project
management tool to improve scheduling and project
administration tasks, supporting project managers to ensure
project is completed on time andbudget [14]. Critical path
methods are used to determine project duration, early and late
start dates float time, critical path, logical constraints and a
number of other activity characteristics [15]. The major
objective is to build up the feasible duration plan required to
perform a specific project [16].
3) Milestone Date Programming Techniques
Milestones are important phases or direct deadline
stipulations within the overall project schedule. Besides that,
milestone schedule is one of the most critical schedules that
must be maintained and referred throughout the project’s
lifecycle. It is a summary level schedule where the project team
leader can do a review and identify if any problems occur in
the progress and make sure that no activity falls behind the
schedule. Milestone schedule provides an estimated timeline
for the project life. It includes all project activities and interim
steps needed to implement the project.
4) Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
The program evaluation and review technique (PERT) is a
network model that allows for randomness in activity
completion times. PERT was originated by the U.S. Navy in
1958 as a tool for scheduling the development of a complete
weapon system [17]. The main advantages of PERT are:
a) The primary use of PERT is for the projects which
have not been done before.
b) PERT provides a basis from which time and cost
performance can be estimated.
c) PERT provides an assessment of the probability of
reaching certain milestones by specified dates or of achieving
overall project completion within a specified time period [18].
5) Elementary Trend Analysis/Line of Balance Method
(LOB)
Line-of-Balance (LOB) scheduling is “a visual scheduling
technique that allows the planner to explain the flow of the
project explicitly” [19]. Some of the LOB scheduling
advantages are listed below:
a) It clearly shows the amount of work taking place in a
certain area at a specific time of the project.
b) It has the ability to highlight and optimize the
resources used by large number of repeated activities, executed
in several zones or locations.
c) It makes cost and time optimization analysis easier
because of all the information available for each activity in the
project
6) Precedence Network Diagram
The fundamental concept for precedence diagramming
technique was introduced by a professor from Stanford
University, John W. Fondahl in 1961 [18]. Precedence
Network Diagram is quite similar with CPM, and it also widely
used in the construction industry. Precedence diagrams are also
easier to draw and modify; additional activities can be inserted
without changing node reference numbers. There is less risk of
making logical errors with precedence diagrams, since each
activity is connected to others by a relationship.
7) Simulation
In construction planning, simulation is commonly used for
analyzing risk events associated with the planning of
construction projects [20]. Earth moving [21], aggregate
production [20], tunnel construction [22], are few applications
of risk analysis of the construction operation using discrete
event simulation. This simplifies the skills and knowledge
required for modeling a simulation network as general
simulation programme can be difficult for general users [23].
B. Software for Time Management
Keeping a project on track throughout its life cycle can help
in saving money by eliminating the chance for a missed
deadline. There are many scheduling and management
software packages to help effective scheduling and time
management in construction industry as described below:
1) Primavera Project Planner
Primavera has been called one of the technology leaders in
the project portfolio management. Primavera Project Planner
(P3) can manage all kind of project whether large or short
duration event critical project because it was designed to
handle large-scale, intricate and multifaceted projects. This
program is capable of organizing the resources (such as labour,
material and equipment) needed by the company for managing
complex and integrated projects. The main benefits of P3
include that it can handle the smaller to medium size of the
project, produces various reports needed to document the
project progress, and it can give real time comparison on where
the project is at compared to the objectives in the business plan.
2) Microsoft Project
Microsoft project was designed to assist the project
manager in developing a plan, assigning resources to tasks
tracking progress, managing the budget and analysing
workloads. This program has many different versions where it
allows the user to understand and control project schedules and
finances, to communicate and present project information, and
to organize work and people to make sure that projects are
completed on schedule. It also provides functionality for the
user to create reports that communicate the status and progress
of the project.
3) Asta Power Project
This program was developed for project planning. Asta
Power Project is professional project management software
where it is easy to use, and it helps to deliver the construction
project in all types and size of organizations on time and within
budget. Asta Power Project have same intuitive look and feel
as a Microsoft office application. The activities are directly
drawn onto the bar chart by using mouse or type in the
spreadsheet. Asta Power Project is good planning software
where it can produce professional looking project plans quickly
and easily. So, it can help to win tenders and impress clients.
4) Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is one of the program that provided by
Microsoft. An Excel document is called a Workbook. A
workbook always has at least one Worksheet. Worksheets are
the grid where one can store and calculate data. Besides that,
Microsoft Excel is a useful tool for scientific and statistical
analysis with large data sets. Excel's statistical formulas and TABLE I. RESPONDENTS’ DEMOGRAPHY
graphing help researchers to perform various types of analysis. Demography Frequency %
5) Project Commandar Type of Organization
Project Commander is an extremely cost-effective planning Consultant 30 23.6
Contractor 79 62.6
tool written by experts in project management and Client 18 14.2
enthusiastically endorsed by satisfied customers worldwide. It Type of Projects
covers all aspects of project management from producing Building 49 38.6
simple plans through to fully customizable professional output. Infrastructure 41 32.3
Building & Infrastructure 31 24.4
This software is ideal for all those involved in project and
Size of Projects
resource planning, job scheduling or departmental. Besides 6-10 million 25 19.7
that, Project Commander is one of the easiest software to use 11-50 million 48 37.8
and also the most cost effective planning solution. It has the >50 million 38 29.9
Qualification
capability to exchange information with Microsoft Project, Diploma 19 15.0
Power Project and Primavera. Degree 65 51.2
6) Deltek Open Plan Master 24 18.9
Deltek open plan is also well known software for project PhD 1 0.8
Experience
planning and scheduling. This software also offers the power 0-10 years 112 88.2
and flexibility to serve the differing needs of business, resource 11-20 years 9 7.1
and project managers. It is because, Deltek Open Plan provides 21-30 years 5 3.9
multi-project analysis, critical path planning, and sophisticated >31 years 1 0.8
resource management. There are several advantages by using Table I indicates that the majority of the respondents were
Deltek Open Plan in project planning and scheduling such as it working with contractor organizations which represent 62.6%
support enterprise-level program management, improves of respondents followed by consultants and clients with %age
project planning, leverage system and processes, and able to of 23.6 and 14.2 respectively. The respondents were involved
manage resources. in handling both type of project i.e. building and infrastructure.
Majority of the respondents i.e. 37.8% involved in projects cost
III. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS 11-50 million. Most of the respondents involved in the survey
This study involved quantitative mode of research using were holding bachelor degree in term of education qualification
structured questionnaire survey. The respondents were asked to with the highest percentage 51.2% compare to others. Survey
specify the method and software they practice in their project statistics showed that 88.2% of the respondents have
and their relative effectiveness using 3-likert scales. Data experience below 10 years, 7.1% of respondents with 11 to 20
collection was carried out amongst clients, consultants and years’ experience, 3.9% with 21 to 30 years of experience and
contractors involved in construction projects who are registered only 0.8% of respondents with above 31 years’ experience.
under CIDB and PKK. More than 300 sets of survey A. Time Management Techniques
questionnaires were distributed to respondents. As a result,
Figure 1 shows %age of respondents having practices
only 127 completed questionnaires could be collected which
various techniques in their project. The level of effectiveness
were analysed statistically with statistical software package
for the techniques is ranked by using the Relative Important
SPSS. Relative importance index (RII) method was used to
Index (RII) for overall analysis as shown in table II.
assess the effectiveness of time management methods and
software packages. RII value was calculated with following
formula:

Where;
w = weighting given to each factor by respondents and it
ranges from 1 to 3
x = frequency of ith response given for each cause
A = highest weight (i.e. 3 in this case)
N = total number of participants
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Fig. 1. Technique/Methods for Time Management
The demography of respondents is presented in Table 1.
From Figure 1, it can be perceived that the three most
commonly used techniques as agreed by all respondents are
Critical Path Method (CPM) technique with highest percentage
of 97.6% of respondents, followed by Gantt Bar Chart with From table III, the software packages are listed in rank
92.1% of respondents and Milestone technique with 81.9% of based on the RII value. Microsoft Project is placed at first rank
respondents. with RII=0.73, second ranked software is Microsoft Excel with
Table II shows the ranking of techniques of time control RII=0.61, and Primavera Project Planner is third ranked
analysed based on RII values. Results show that CPM is the software package with RII= 0.50. It is followed by Project
most effective method of time management paced at first Commandar, Asta Power Project and the lowest rank is Deltek
ranked (with RII=0.73.) With RII value of 0.64, Gantt Bar Open Plan software.
Chart was ranked at second place while third ranked was found
as Milestone with RII=0.61. LOB and Precedence Network TABLE III. EFFECTIVENESS OF TIME MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Diagram were at same rank as 4th ranked, followed by PERT Software Packages RII Rank
and Simulation.
Primavera Project Planner 0.50 3
TABLE II. EFFECTIVENESS OF TIME MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES Microsoft Project 0.73 1
Asta Power Project 0.28 5
Technique / Method RII Rank
Microsoft Excel 0.61 2
Gantt Bar Chart 0.64 2 Project Commandar 0.29 4
CPM 0.73 1 Deltek Open Plan 0.26 6
Milestone 0.61 3
PERT 0.49 5
V. CONCLUSION
LOB 0.51 4 Through questionnaire survey, frequency and effectiveness
of various techniques and software packages of time
Precedence Network Diagram 0.51 4
management was assessed. The finding of the study indicated
Simulation 0.44 6 that most common and effective method of time management
as perceived by the respondents was Critical Path Method
B. Software Packages (CPM). The respondent recorded that most commonly adopted
There are many scheduling and management software software package is Microsoft Project and also this software
packages to help in achieving effective scheduling and time was ranked as most effective package.
management in the construction industry. Figure 2 shows the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
result of software packages commonly applied in construction
projects. Data gathered was also analysed to show the level of The authors would like to thank Centre of Research and
effectiveness for each software packages as presented in table Innovations, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, for
III. encouragement and support in carrying out this research work.
Also, we are thankful to construction practitioners for
providing comprehensive & important information; a lot of
cooperation which made data collection easier. The authors
also wish to thank the anonymous reviewers of the paper for
their constructive comments, valuable guidance and advice.
Finally, Aftab Hameed Memon is grateful to Quaid-e-Awam
University of Engineering, Science and Technology also for
granting permission to carryout research work at Universiti
Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.
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